With over two decades of experience supporting children and families across child welfare, community mental health, military treatment facilities, and international settings, Sara Samedi brings a grounded, trauma-informed, and developmentally attuned perspective to her work. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and moved to Maryland in 2014 for graduate school after serving in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic as a Youth and Family Development Volunteer.

Sara is a neurodivergent mother who understands the unique joys and challenges of raising children in today’s world. As the oldest of three children, she also remembers the complexities of growing up and navigating family dynamics from a young age. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature with her dog, reading, and exploring new places.

Training and Education

Sara has specialized training in child development and play-based therapy and uses child- and person-centered approaches, mindfulness, and creative interventions to help children, teens, and adults express themselves in ways that feel natural and safe. Her professional experience includes work in schools, child welfare, foster care and adoption, adult psychiatry, and supporting service members and their families—allowing her to thoughtfully care for both young people and the caregivers who support them.

Sara holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a Bachelor of Arts in Family and Human Services from the University of Oregon. She is licensed to practice in the state of Maryland.

Therapeutic Approach

Sara believes therapy should be collaborative, non-judgmental, and deeply respectful of each person’s strengths, identity, and lived experience. Whether she is helping a child build emotional awareness through play, supporting a teen through anxiety, or working alongside parents or adults navigating complex life transitions, her goal is to create a warm, supportive space where clients feel understood, empowered, and in control of their healing process.

Sara is committed to culturally responsive, inclusive, and anti-oppressive practice. Her work is informed by an understanding of how trauma, family systems, and broader societal forces shape our internal worlds. She strives to support each client with compassion, curiosity, and respect for their autonomy and would be honored to walk alongside you or your child toward healing, confidence, and growth.

Sara currently offers telehealth services.